Updated 11 hours ago

Is Windows Mobile 7 the fabled iPhone killer?

It may be speculation, but gesture recognition could be the future

May 16th 2009 | Tell us what you think [ 3 comments ]

microsoft-zune

Will the next Microsoft-powered devices use gesture recognition?

With Windows 7 just around the corner and all its features pretty much confirmed it was inevitable that speculation would turn to the equivalent new version for mobile devices.

Rumours about Windows Mobile 7 have been around for a while now, but it seems some of the alleged new features are finally becoming almost official, including some intriguing gesture-recognition abilities.

Leaked presentation

According to a supposed Microsoft internal presentation, WinMo 7 ('Photon' to its pals) will use a device's camera to enable gesture recognition that goes beyond the standard touch interface.

Movements, such as a flick of the wrist, will be used to activate music playback, skip tracks and other functions that don't require the user to be looking at the screen.

All about Apple?

If all of this sounds vaguely familiar, then that's probably because adding new dimensions to Windows device control schemas will inevitably be seen as Microsoft's answer to the iPhone's accelerometer.

Naturally, nothing has been confirmed yet, but if the presentation is real we could be in for interesting times over the next couple of years.

 

Your comments (3) Click to add a new comment

timlayton


May 29th 2009

3. There is no doubt windows mobile 7 will likely get a huge boost of new features if any of the current rumors are true. It makes sense to integrate zune at least at some level, the release of the windows mobile marketplace is not an accident, the future of the touch-screen technology is always well-planned. Many have been critical of microsoft for being slow to market, but I think you will see they have a genius plan that will hit a home run the first time out of the gate and deliver a fantastic product for us to use and enjoy.

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mahatmacoat


May 16th 2009

2. WinMo 7 will be on plenty more than just phones, northerngeek. Bet you see it first on the new Zunes.

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northerngeek


May 16th 2009

1. Seriously, still with the Zune30 image for no good reason? Why not the WinMo7 logo, or the zuneHD leaked picture... at least use a phone!

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